VOLKSWAGEN TAKES DOUBLE HONOURS AT WHAT CAR? USED CAR AWARDS

Volkswagen has once again been honoured with two class victories in the What Car? Used Car of the Year awards. The Passat Estate won the Estate car category, while the Golf hatchback claimed the Small Family used car award.

The 2012 What Car? Used Car of the Year judging panel was made up of experts from all areas of the motor industry including car dealerships, auction houses and What Car? itself.

Winning the Small Family used car award was the 2010 Volkswagen Golf 1.6-litre TDI Match five-door. What Car? editor, John McIlroy, commented: ‘The Volkswagen Golf has numerous What Car? awards – both as new and used. As a used car in 2012, no other small family car can match the Golf for financial reasons, practicality, fun and comfort. It’s a great all round package.’

The judges added: ‘The Golf had to fight off a strong challenge from the Ford Focus this year, which drives brilliantly and has the space and practicality to match its German rival. However, the Golf’s superior build quality and better residual values mean it’s worth investing the extra; you’ll certainly appreciate your choice of car when you come to sell it.’

Volkswagen’s trusted load-carrier, the Passat Estate, triumphed in the Estate car category for the second consecutive year. The winning model was the 2008 Volkswagen Passat 2.0-litre TDI SE, of which McIlroy stated: ‘The Volkswagen Passat is our used estate of the year because it offers a classy image, sharp handling as well as a cavernous interior alongside great build quality and competitive servicing costs. It’s a hard package to beat.’

Elsewhere, the Polo, Golf GTI, Tiguan, Touran and Passat were also named runners-up in their respective categories.

It’s not only the products which make Volkswagens a good used buy, but also the service. In April 2011, Volkswagen completed the roll-out of its ‘Das Welt Auto’ used car programme which is designed to make the purchase of a secondhand car as appealing as the new car process. More details can be found at volkswagen.co.uk/used.

The December issue of What Car? magazine with the full results of its Used Car of the Year awards is available to purchase now.